Review

The Devil I Know by Claire Kilroy

A
novel about Irish drunkards in steep decline may not sound like a
startlingly original idea. However, The Devil I Know focuses on the Irish
property boom (and bust) and is, therefore, a tale of our time: a story of
lavish greed and selfishness; soullessness and economic devastation. Even
the most jaded reader will find something to be appalled by here.

Tristram is Irish nobility. Known by locals as “Castler” because of his family
pile, he is an alcoholic who has emerged from a personal crisis. He
overdosed in Belgium, ended up in hospital and, just after the time of his
death, was declared miraculously revived. He joined AA, and got a sponsor,
the enigmatic M Deauville, who speaks to him only by phone. Back in his home
town, Tristram is dragged into property speculation by an old schoolfellow
called Hickey, now a corrupt builder. Together with millions of euros’